Brexit: an urgent appeal to Tory MPs

A comfort zone gives the comforted a false sense of safety. For now, it would be quite possible to carry on as if nothing significant has changed: assuring messages from Conservative Party HQ; 'crisis – what crisis' coverage on the BBC or comment pages of the Times; social media bubbles where agreeable opinions are heard.

But believe us at the Bruges Group – this really is a crisis. We have been warning of this for weeks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkmlTBCE5zI . But since Theresa May presented her 'done deal' to a captive Cabinet at Chequers last Friday, the conditions for civil unrest have been set. Please do not think this will die down, or that normal service will be resumed.

For calm and considered party loyalists to speak of treason by their own leader, and Prime Minister, should be worrying. The term is not used unjustifiably. Theresa May has not merely blundered or acquiesced to a bullying Brussels autocracy – she has obviously decided (long ago) to deceive the British people and to defy democracy. This is worse than Tony Blair's WMD. The Conservatives' manifesto pledge to enact the verdict of the EU referendum has been revealed as a damned lie.

Choose your barometer. The Sun today has Theresa May writing in support of her plan. But the comments below the line are almost entirely negative – and extremely angry. Here is a typical example: -

'What an load of utter rollocks from the EU 5th columnist, May. You have sold us out to the EU and your chickens will soon be coming home to roost. You can write in newspapers and you can send your minions out to do your dirty work (Nick Timothy and William Hague in the Telegraph), BUT you have betrayed us and we no longer trust you. Any Prime Minister who allows Merkel to dictate policy BEFORE even discussing it with her own Cabinet is worthy only of our loathing.' https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6756267/theresa-may-column-brexit-plan/

The Telegraph letters page, every day this week, has been reserved for the spleens of the traditional Tory shires. Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson has savaged May https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/politics/theresa-may-will-soon-forgotten-never-forgiven/, while Tim Stanley tweeted 'May's government will probably now fall'. Staid Tory servants such as Stewart Jackson (barred from working with Davis's DExEU successor Dominic Raab) is openly challenging the official party line.

But why not sit back and read the opinion polls. A mere 13% think May's deal is good for Britain. https://yougov.co.uk/news/2018/07/12/conservatives-are-suffering-events-following-chequ/ For months the Tories have kept Labour at bay, but now they are facing a rapidly resurgent UKIP (gaining thousands of new members this week, and up to 6% in latest YouGov poll). This is just the start of a rebellion against the Conservative Party by its own representatives, members and voters.

People are not stupid. They see Liam Fox trying to defend the basically Remain deal in a Commons Committee, speaking like a doomed man at Stalin's show trials. https://www.ft.com/content/07c30254-8529-11e8-96dd-fa565ec55929 Perhaps the most profound portrayal of May's Brexit betrayal is by Telegraph cartoonist Matt: the score Croatia 2 England 1 is promoted as just what the people want.

Do not let May limp on. Unchallenged, she will go on to wreak lasting damage on your party and your career, while shattering your constituents' faith in democracy. We urge you to act now, to mount an urgent rescue operation. Otherwise, the Tory party is finished.

About the author

Dr Niall McCrae is a lecturer in mental health. Niall campaigned for Brexit in Sutton, one of the few London boroughs to vote to leave the EU. He continues to write on Brexit within his broader theme of democracy and freedom of speech. Regular writer for Salisbury Review, Conservative Woman and healthcare journals. Author of two books: The Moon and Madness, and The Story of Nursing in British Mental Hospitals: Echoes from the Corridors.

Comments
2

This is a sell out,have courage,EU want our money,if we stay they will crucify us,they’ve treated us with contempt,humiliation,walk away,we’ve tougher it before and freedom will come after sacrifices,I dread the future if we remain,our country will disappear completely,puppets,my parents fought for freedom and democracy,made huge sacrifices.

This is a sell out,have courage,EU want our money,if we stay they will crucify us,they’ve treated us with contempt,humiliation,walk away,we’ve tougher it before and freedom will come after sacrifices,I dread the future if we remain,our country will disappear completely,puppets,my parents fought for freedom and democracy,made huge sacrifices.

Too late mate. We are gone. We will no longer support a party that treats us with contemp not only in brexit but in many other issues that we find abhorrent. From attempting to censor speech , supporting the PC narritive while openly disparaging the common people, to accepting the radical left interference in the education of our children, indoctrination as opposed to education. Politicised, police, and justice. and many more

Too late mate. We are gone. We will no longer support a party that treats us with contemp not only in brexit but in many other issues that we find abhorrent. From attempting to censor speech , supporting the PC narritive while openly disparaging the common people, to accepting the radical left interference in the education of our children, indoctrination as opposed to education. Politicised, police, and justice. and many more